There are many roles that kids can play. Kids can bully others, they can be
bullied, or they may witness bullying. When kids are involved in bullying, they
often play more than one role. Sometimes kids may both be bullied and bully
others or they may witness other kids being bullied. It is important to
understand the multiple roles kids play in order to effectively
prevent and
respond to bullying.

Importance of Not Labeling Kids

When
referring to a bullying situation, it is easy to call the kids who bully others
"bullies" and those who are targeted "victims," but this may have unintended
consequences. When children are labeled as "bullies" or "victims" it may:

·Send the
message that the child's behavior cannot change

·Fail to
recognize the multiple roles children might play in different bullying
situations

·Disregard other
factors contributing to the behavior such as peer influence or school climate

Instead of labeling the children involved, focus on the behavior.
For instance:

·Instead of
calling a child a "bully," refer to them as "the child who bullied"

·Instead of
calling a child a "victim," refer to them as "the child who was bullied"

·Instead of
calling a child a "bully/victim," refer to them as "the child who was both
bullied and bullied others."

Kids Involved in Bullyin

The
roles kids play in bullying are not limited to those who bully others and those
who are bullied. Some researchers talk about the "circle of bullying" to define
both those directly involved in bullying and those who actively or passively
assist the behavior or defend against it. Direct roles include:

·Kids who
Bully:
These children engage in bullying behavior towards their peers. There are many
risk factors that may contribute to
the child's involvement in the behavior. Often, these students require
support to change their behavior and
address any other challenges that may be influencing their behavior.

·Kids who are
Bullied:
These children are the targets of bullying behavior. Some factors put children
at more risk of being bullied, but
not all children with these characteristics will be bullied. Sometimes, these
children may need help learning
how to respond to bullying.

Even
if a child is not directly involved in bullying, they may be contributing to the
behavior. Witnessing the behavior may also
affect
the child, so it is important for them to learn
what they should do when they see
bullying happen. Roles kids play when they witness bullying include:

·Kids who
Assist:
These children may not start the bullying or lead in the bullying behavior, but
serve as an "assistant" to children who are bullying. These children may
encourage the bullying behavior and occasionally join in.

·Kids who
Reinforce:
These children are not directly involved in the bullying behavior but they give
the bullying an audience. They will often laugh or provide support for the
children who are engaging in bullying. This may encourage the bullying to
continue.

·Outsiders:
These children remain separate from the bullying situation. They neither
reinforce the bullying behavior nor defend the child being bullied. Some may
watch what is going on but do not provide feedback about the situation to show
they are on anyone’s side. Even so, providing an audience may encourage the
bullying behavior.

·These kids
often want to help, but don’t know how. Learn how to be "more
than a bystander."

·Kids who
Defend:
These children actively comfort the child being bullied and may come to the
child's defense when bullying occurs.

Most
kids play more than one role in bullying over time. In some cases, they may be
directly involved in bullying as the one bullying others or being bullied and in
others they may witness bullying and play an assisting or defending role. Every
situation is different. Some kids are both bullied and bully others. It is
important to note the multiple roles kids play, because:

·Those
who are both bullied and bully others may be at more risk for
negative outcomes, such as depression
or suicidal ideation.

·It
highlights the need to engage all kids in
prevention efforts, not just those who are known to be directly involved